[Weekly Features]

MXGP Insider No.31 presented by Kawasaki – Ryan Villopoto

Team USA Motocross of Nations hero, Ryan Villopoto, was a special guest at the Grand Prix of Belgium and his presence gave a lot of people the feeling that he will be returning to more GPs in the future.

Looking relaxed and enjoying meeting new people and visiting new countries was something that got the American Champion excited about possibly racing against the likes of Antonio Cairoli, Clement Desalle, Christophe Pourcel and many more of the leading Grand Prix riders in the near future.

While talking to the press on the weekend, Villopoto told of his goal to race the FIM World Motocross Championships in the near future. Possibly as soon as 2016.

With news that Chad Reed might use a Grand Prix of two to prepare for the 2012 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations and Ryan Dungey now having a good relationship with the Red Bull KTM Factory team, there is every chance that we might see more of the American-based riders joining Villopoto in his quest to become a World Motocross Champion.

Does racing the FIM World Motocross Championship interest you?Villopoto: I have considered racing in the FIM World Motocross Championship. I would like to flip it around and race that Championship. It’s a thought I have had to come over here and race. I want to finish my motorcycle racing career fit and strong and then there are so many avenues what I can do after my career is over.”

Do you have a time frame when you might want to race in the FIM World Motocross Championship? I think I have three more years racing in America. Then I think I want to race the FIM World Motocross Championships. It would be the chance to see a lot of Europe and also no other leading America rider has ever moved to Europe to race, there have been American’s here, but not an American Champion, and I would like to be the first. I like the idea of that challenge, being able to race this series on different tracks and the challenge of a different culture. Visiting some cool places would also be nice.

The whole European adventure, is that something you have talked about with your partner? I have spoken to my wife about it and we both like the idea. I really had a good time in Europe while visiting the Grand Prix of Belgium. We visited Stefan Everts home, saw all his trophies and bikes, which was really cool. I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to Antonio Cairoli, but I have a lot of respect for him as a racer.

Obviously racing the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations is a big event for any rider. Does that event mean a lot to you? Some of my best racing moments have been at the MXoN, I have had a lot of great moments in that race. The 2007 Budds Creek held Motocross of Nations was an awesome time for me, but also winning the AMA Supercross Championship, I have accomplished that and hopefully I can keep doing it for a few more years.